T H E D E P A R T M E N T O F M U S I C ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

V ​A ​S ​S ​A ​R ​ C ​O ​L ​L ​E ​G ​E ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Vassar College Women’s Chorus

Christine Howlett, conductor ​ Susan Brown, piano ​

Saturday, November 3, 2018 8:00 PM Skinner Recital Hall

PROGRAM

When I Rise Up J. David Moore, arr.

Flare Dale Trumbore (b. 1987)

Songbird Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)

Lake Isle of Innisfree Eleanor Daley (b. 1955)

I live in pain David Lang (b. 1957)

Breathe in Hope Trumbore

Susan Brown, piano ​

Parting Friends Traditional Appalachian Moira Smiley, arr.

On Children Ysaye Barnwell (b. 1946)

Bring me little water, Silvy Huddie William Ledbetter (“Lead Belly”) Moira Smiley, arr.

Moon Goddess Jocelyn Hagen (b. 1980)

Susan Brown, Gregg Michalak, piano ​ Frank Cassara, percussion ​

VASSAR COLLEGE WOMEN’S CHORUS

Soprano I Isabel Bielat ‘20 Abigail Goldman ‘21 Abigail Klipfel ‘22 Hannah O’Loughlin ‘22 Kaiqing Annabell Su ‘21

Soprano II Sadie Frank ‘19 Susannah Atkinson ‘21 Emma Bauchner ‘21 Hannah Grable ‘21 Bailey Hancharik ‘22 Sarah Kopp ‘22 Shuang Elinor Qiao ‘20

Alto I Jackie Hwang ‘19 Linda Liu ‘19 Lucy Sinclair ‘21 Angelique Rodriguez Harmony Lindstrom ‘22 Natalie Habaybeh ‘22

Alto II Allison Breeze ‘19 Rachel Walker ‘21 Shannon Croft ‘20 Corinne Sigmund ‘20 Lynn Qi ‘22

TEXTS

Flare

Wait. Through trees with bursting limbs I am running. Ablend with bark, a mute blaze. My eyes blue stain On the green I am running toward the stream. Past names scratched, last summer’s lean- to, the ravine bridged by a held breath-- I am running toward the game. Toward the arm. The birds cutthroat in the clearing I am running toward the twist. Running toward the same as away. Toward the twistarm game by the stream. My eye’s blue, running. Under canopy, I’m nothing. Feet between deer tracks, I’m vanishing. A burst, held breath, and over anthill, say grace. Wait. Bright flash. Big brother, I am catching up to you.

- Stacy Gnall - “Flare” from Heart First Into the Forest (2011) ​ ​ ​ ​ Songbird

I am a Songbird; I will sing anything. Give me a tune, I will spin you gold. Closer you come to the Songbird weaving, stronger the thread of the music’s hold. Feel in the breeze a breath, a soaring song to you, and hear me say: ‘I am a Songbird; I will sing anything. Follow the breeze and come my way, come my way!’

One little bird on a branch sits fanning amber wings to the passersby. Two little birds in flight are threading webs of gold in an endless sky. Three little birds with brushes painting moonlit sighs in the height of day. Four little birds with voices gleaming breath to the wind singing ‘come my way!’

Sing little bird so sweetly. Drown my fears completely.

Five little birds with feathers fluffing stretch and spread in the midday sun.

Six little birds are cooing, humming, drawing the eyes of everyone. Seven little birds in fountains splashing. Droplets soar, they fawn and play. Eight little birds raise voices higher, breathe to the wind singing, ‘come my way!’

Sing little bird so sweetly, Drown my fears completely.

Fly, little Songbirds, to the horizon. Land meets sky and sky meets sea. Dance, little Songbirds, flick your feathers, move the current, carry me! Sing, little Songbirds, call to your lovers. Draw them in completely. You, little Songbirds, you can sing anything. I follow the wind and I come your way, come your way! - Music and text by Sarah Quartel

Lake Isle of Innisfree

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made: Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee; And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

W. B. Yeats, 1865 - 1939 ​

I live in pain for someone I once had for someone I once wanted for someone I once knew for someone I once loved, without measure I see now that he left me because I did not give him all my love I see now I was wrong and now I sleep alone

I want to hold him in my naked arms I want to lie beside him in my bed I want him more than any long-forgotten lovers ever loved before I want to give him everything my heart my love my senses my sight my life good friend, kind friend, fearless friend when will i have you? when will you lie beside ne? when will I give you my love? you know how much I want you. promise me you will do what say please do what I say - Music and text by david lang (after contessa de dia)

BREATHE IN HOPE

What would we do if we didn’t have the privilege of being distracted

I know life has to move on. I know we must honor our personal lives. I know we must not live in darkness. I know we must celebrate in our humanity. To keep our lungs from collapsing. We must breathe in hope. And so have I. Taken in joy. And beauty. And selfishness. And frivolity. And laughter. We are wonderful. Humans. We find the light.

But I fear the moment passing. Already distracted from the fire though the smoke is still filling our lungs. This is going to sound wrong. But I hope this pain lasts. I hope that it holds. I don’t want to heal Just yet. We have become experts at recovery. I hope we become expert at Revolution. - Maya Jackson

Maya Jackson’s text for Breathe in Hope began as two Facebook posts ​ ​ responding to the violent deaths of PHilando Castile and Alton Sterling. Reading Maya’s words, I was drawn to her poetic call for action. When confronted with tragedy, we may instinctively search for hope and healing. In the face of violent injustice, through, maybe the hope we seek can only be found when we recognize our own accountability and ask what actions we can take to create lasting change. - Dale Trumbore ​

Parting Friends Farewell my friends, I’m bound for Canaan. I’m traveling through the wilderness. Your company has been delightful. You who doth leave my mind distressed.

I go away behind to leave you, Perhaps never to meet again. But if we never have the pleasure, I hope we’ll meet on Canaan’s land.

I know dark clouds are gathrin’ o’er me I know my way is rough and steep Yet beauteous fields lie just before me, And lilies group where angels sleep.

I go away…

- Traditional Appalachian/shape-note hymn

On Children Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but you cannot make them just like you.

- Words by Kahlil Gibran, adapted by Y. Barnwell.

Bring me little water Silvy Bring me little water now Bring me little water Silvy Ev’ry little once in awhile

Silvy come a runnin’ Bucket in her hand I will bring a little water Fast as I can

Bring it in a bucket Silvy Bring it in a bucket now Bring it in a bucket Silvy Ev’ry little once in awhile

Can’t you see me comin’ Can’t you see me now I will bring a little water Ev’ry little once in awhile. - Huddie W. Ledbetter (Lead Belly) Moon Goddess

On my lady, on hearing your sound, Hills and flatlands bow.

O my lady, guardian of all the great essences, You have picked them up and hung them On your hand.

You are lofty like Heaven. Let the world know! You are wide like the earth. Let the world know!

You strike everything down in battle. O my lady, on your wings You hack away the land and charge disguised as a charging storm, Roar as a roaring storm, Thunder and keep thundering, and snort With evil winds.

O primary one, Moon goddess Inanna of heaven and earth!

On your harp of sighs I hear your dirge.

O my lady, this song has made you great And exalted you. O my lady, wife of An, I have told your fury!

- Adapted by Jocelyn Hagen, based on adaptations by Aliki and Willis Barnstone

Enheduanna (born ca. 2300 B.C.) was a moon priestess, the daughter of King Sargon of Agade, who reigned over the world’s first empire, extending from the Mediterranean to Persia. Sargon is the first important leader to emerge from the half-light of prehistory into the full light of a written record. His daughter, Enheduanna, is the first writer, male or female, in history whose name and works have been preserved. Her personal history survives in highly politicized poems, which in their cosmic vision and ethical outrage recall Isaiah. In her poems to the Sumerian goddess of love Inanna, she speaks to a deity who had descended to earth as an ally, as a friend to help her in her need. In the poems’ sensuality, surprising metaphors, and intimacy, they recall Sappho’s poems to her ally Aphrodite.

- From A Book of Women Poets, from Antiquity to Now, edited by ​ ​ Aliki and Willis Barnstone. Upcoming Skinner Concert Events

Sunday, November 4 at 3pm Faculty & Guest Recital: Frank Cassara, percussion, Helen Lin, piano ​ ​ ​ This husband and wife team present a concert of contemporary music written for piano and percussion, as well as solo pieces from their repertoire. Composers will include Stravinsky, Adams, Mellits, Xenakis, and Glass.

Saturday, November 10 at 1:30pm Senior Recital: Allison Breeze Music by Fauré, Gounod, Sondheim, and others. Assisted by Richard Mogavero, piano ​ Saturday, November 10 at 4pm Senior Recital: Ava Linvog, piano ​ Featuring works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, and Liszt.

Saturday, November 10 at 8pm Vassar College Chamber Singers Featuring Flower Songs by Persichetti with string quintet. ​ ​ Ronald A. Bemrich, conductor. ​ Sunday, November 11 at 3pm Vassar College & Community Wind Ensemble James Osborn, conductor ​

If you would like to receive the music department’s Calendar of Musical Events or its e-newsletter, This Weekend in Skinner, please call the ​ ​ Concert Administrator’s office at 845-437-7294. Visit online: music.vassar.edu Follow us on FB: @VassarMusic

Please silence all cell phones or other personal electronic devices and refrain from texting. Use of these instruments will disturb other audience members and cause interference with in-house recording and webcasting.